Karoline Leavitt rebukes Tim Walz for inciting hostility toward federal ICE agents
.@PressSec: Democrats like Walz "are using their platforms to encourage violence against federal law enforcement officers" and "encouraging left-wing agitators to unlawfully obstruct legitimate law enforcement operations... It's truly shameful." pic.twitter.com/n74ZGRjJQc
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 15, 2026
WASHINGTON, DC: The White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt held a press briefing on Thursday, January 15, during which she addressed the ongoing protests in the state of Minnesota that started after an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Nicole Good on January 7.
During the press briefing, Leavitt criticized MinnesotaGovernor Tim Walz’s “truly shameful” behavior for using his platform to encourage violence against federal law enforcement officers.
Karoline Leavitt slams Democrats over law enforcement standoff
During the White House press conference, Karoline Leavitt criticized Democrats like Tim Walz for not cooperating with the federal and state law enforcement agencies present in their states.
She said Walz was encouraging left-wing agitators to unlawfully obstruct legitimate law enforcement operations.
Leavitt claimed that while law enforcement officers wanted to work in sync with their counterparts, it was such Democratic leaders who posed a problem with their non-cooperation.
“For more than a year, you’ve had elected Democrat governors and mayors who have basically held their state and local law enforcement officers hostage,” Leavitt said.
The White House Press Secretary questioned why the Democrats refused to cooperate, especially when they were willing to do the same under the Biden administration.
Answering her own question, Leavitt said that it was because of the Democrats’ hatred for President Donald Trump.
She added that Democrat mayors and governors were trying to obstruct lawful and legitimate law enforcement operations aimed at eliminating violent criminals from their own states, such as Minnesota, New York, California, and every state across the country.
She added that the violent “riots” such as the ones currently happening in Minneapolis were not present in Republican states because the leadership in states like Florida had empowered local and state law enforcement agencies.
“And it’s despicable what we’re seeing from these Democrat politicians,” she added.
Trump threatens to impose 'Insurrection Act' in Minnesota
On Thursday morning, Donald Trump took to Truth Social to issue a warning to the “corrupt politicians” of Minnesota. He said that if they didn’t obey the law, stop agitators and insurrectionists from attacking ICE agents, he would invoke the 'Insurrection Act'.
During the press conference, a reporter asked the press secretary about the same. They asked whether there was a specific line the protesters would have had to cross in order for Trump to exercise that authority.
In response, Karoline Leavitt said that the 'Insurrection Act' was a tool at President Trump’s disposal.
“And as you know, it has been used, sparingly, but it has been used by previous presidents in American history,” She added.
She also noted that the president’s social media post was clear and aimed towards any elected official trying to use their platform to encourage violence against federal agents.
